North America

History in the making! 🙌 Watch what happened when 25 Special Olympics athlete leaders from Canada, the Caribbean, and the U.S. gathered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the first-ever SONA Regional Athlete Congress.Completely planned and driven by the athletes themselves, this historic event was all about amplifying voices, building leadership skills, and shaping the future of the movement. From mastering project management to delivering powerful campaign speeches, these incredible leaders spent days preparing to make a difference back home—and on the global stage at the 2027 World Games in Chile.As the athletes remind us: "Inclusion is a team sport." It's not enough to just listen—it's time for action. Hit play to see the highlights, the emotional voting results, and the incredible power of athlete leadership! 🔔 Subscribe for more compelling stories from our athletes!

Eleven Projects that Could Change Special Olympics from the Ground Up

Athlete leaders attending the 2026 SONA Regional Athlete Congress explain why they are done merely talking; they are ready to get to work.

Special Olympics International was honored to join the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C. to host Partners in Diplomacy: Advancing Inclusion Through Sport, bringing together ambassadors, government leaders, diplomatic representatives, and Special Olympics Athlete Leaders.

The story details how Kayte leveraged her own challenges accessing mental health care to help develop Special Olympics Strong Minds, the mental discipline of Special Olympics Health Athletes®.

Fansided recently covered the announcement of North Carolina Panthers Quarterback Bryce Young’s support of Special Olympics Unified Sports®.

[May 21, 2026] Special Olympics and the Young 9 Foundation, founded by Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, have teamed up to expand inclusive sports programming.

Spotlight PA recognized Loretta Claiborne as a Local Hero for her lifetime of work and accomplishments with Special Olympics. The following is an excerpt from the article titled PA Local Heroes: The champion athlete advocating for people with disabilities:

Inside Victoria Fertitta Middle School, celebration isn’t just filling the gym—it’s filling every corner of the campus. After years of intentional work to ensure every student feels seen, invited, and valued, the school is marking a milestone: national recognition for inclusion. The school will be recognized by ESPN and Special Olympics North America as a National Banner school. National Banner status is one of the highest honors a school can earn through Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools®—recognizing campuses where inclusion isn’t occasional but embedded in daily culture.

Only a handful of Special Olympics athletes have had the opportunity to meet the founder of Special Olympics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Even fewer athletes had the opportunity to compete in her backyard the year before Special Olympics even began. Luckily, for Tim Gowen, he was able to do both.